Ratchet screw driver



June 10, 1930. D B, swAlN Er AL 1,762,315

RATCHET SCREWDRIVER June 10, 1930.V v D, B, swAlN Er AL RATCHETSCREWDRIVER Y 2 sheds-sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1925 I INVENTcRs 4 Y yl/wJ/v I ATTORNEYS l be indicated in the claims. K'

Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES DONALD Bj SWAIN AlannamaarV A.RYTHDR, oriunmnas FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS,

AssrGNons i A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS T0 MILLERS FALLSCOMPANY, OFMILLERS FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS,

" RATCHET SCREW DRIVER Application led ll'une,

This inventionrelates to a screwdriver, and specically to an improvedscrewdriver of the ratchet type. y

. It is an object of the invention to provide aidevice of thetype statedwhich Will efficiently perform the purposes for Which it is intended,andwhich Will also be economically and readily `manufactured and easilyassem` bled.

A further object is that of furnishing a tool of this nature ofrelatively simple and improved constructionwhich may be utilized toVadvantage tovvithdraw screws and similar articles, as Well as to drivethem home.l

A stillfurther obj ect is that of constructing ascrevvdriver of the typementioned and in such a. manner that the relatively movable parts Willcontinue to function Without need of replacement or adjustment over longperiods of heavy duty.` l i With these and further objects in mind, theinvention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts Which Will beexemplified in ,the construction hereinafter set forth and thescope ofthe application of which Will For a fuller understanding of the natureand objects of theinvention reference should be had to thefollowingdetailed description taken in connection `With the accompanyingdrawings, invvhich: j y

Fig. 1 is a side elevationof one type of screwdriver embodying thelimproved construction of the present invention; i h

` Fig.y 2 is an enlargedsectional side view of certain of theoperatingmechanism of the tool;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of` this portion of the tool with theexterior knurled member removed therefrom; y l Fig` 4 is a similar viewwith y, the paWl-ac tuating sleeve removed;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional vievv taken y along the lines 5 5 ofFig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is avieW Similar to Fig. 5, butta-ken along the lines 6--6 ofFig.` 1 and showing a `different form of pavvl-actuating spring fromthat employed in the preceding figures;l

It is here to` be observed that in the illus- 1925. sel-mino. 35,951.

trated embodiment the invention has been shown in connection with aratchet screwdriver ofthe single spiral type. While the invention incertain respects primarily aims to provide animproved tool of thischaracter, it Will, nevertheless,` be appreciated that the severalfeatures of the invention hereinafter more fully described may beutilized to advantage in association With Screwdrivers of other types.

Thus, referring particularly to Fig. 1,the numeral 10 indicates a handlesecured to one end of a tube 11, and secured to the opposite end of thistube is a paWl-controlling member, generally indicated at 12.Retractible Within the tube is a spindle 13 formed in the presentinstance With a single spiral groove 14. A spring 15 serves to normallyproject the spindle Within the tube,it beingobserved that a cushioningblock lmay` be interposed between the spindle and spring ends, and thataccess to the interior ofthe latter member may be had through acap17,`vvhich When removed obviously permits of Withdravvalof thespring, as Well as the block.

Secured to the Opposite end of the spindle 1 13 is a chuck 18, which maybe of any desired type, and tothe rear of this chuck a prefer ablyknurled sleeve 19 may be rotatably mounted in order to provide aconvenient gripping surface forthe fingers of the Opera tor. i

NOW, referring to the detailed construction of the paWl-actuatingmember, attention is primarily invited to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, inwhich it Willbe noted that a housing 20 is fixedly secured to theouterend of the tube 11 and 'provides a frame or body, Which, inaddition `to other functions, serves as a paWl mounting, and to theouter end of Which a headed nut 21 may be secured by means ofthe threads22, this nut being normally locked by means ofa key28 extending througha slot formed in the outer end of the member 20.

At the opposite, i. e., the inner, end ofthe member 20 a collar 24 ismounted uponthe tube, and this collar extends beyond this member and`has a circumference substantially equal to the circumference of the nut2.1. In order to prevent an accidental loosening of the collar 24 anydesired expedient may be resorted to, for example, as has beenillustrated, a spring may be interposed between Y the outer edge thereofand the inner edge of the frame member. i y, 1

y This member may be formed with t-wo longitudinally-extending slots 25and a pair of arcuategrooves 26 intersecting the slots 25. nHaving'theirbodiesy27 disposed'one within l length than the ,arms 28. yThus, the pawl 'of which the arms 28 form a part will at .all timesremain operative, while the pawl which presents arms 29- will beactuated in a manner hereinafter specified. *l c Bearing against theinner circumferential edge of the nut` 21 is a'tube 30 having itsinnerface provided with apair of opposed Aribs31, which are disposed in aspiral corresponding to the spiral of the grooves 14, `the outer sur- 30face of the tube-30-and'more particularly.-

the lcent-ral k.portionthereof-being provided withl an annular series ofteeth 32 furnishing aratchet portion. Thus, the'tube 30'serves as aratchet nut, 'and is restrained against move- 35 ment other thanrotational by virtue of the fact that its outer edge bears `against theyinner edge'j ofthe Vnut 21 as aforesaid, and 'that its opposite edgebears against a'collar 33 loosely encircling the spindle 13 and ar- 40lranged adjacent the outer edge-ofthe tube 11. In order to normally urgeboth pawls into contact withvthefratchet-portion 32 `an .H-

shapedspring 34k maybe. employed, which has the outer end ofvits armsbowed to extend invvardlyiso as to pressthe pawlsadj acent the outerends of their bodies, the central portion of this lspring thus extending:upwardly :and out lof contact lwiththe pawl bodies.

A sleeve 35 encirclesthemember 2O and has its-opposite end edges bearingagainst the nut 21 and collar .24;soy that it is yrestrained fromlongitudinal movement relatively to the -tool handle. Likewise,av'furthersleeve 36 sencircles the sleeve 35, the outer surface of `thesleeve 36 being preferably knurledso as to afford aconv.enientfhandgrip, itbeing observed that the circumferencev of thenut .21 and collarl 24 is sufiiciently great to also prevent-movementother than rotative on the parto-f this sleeve. The sleeves 35 and 36are normally coupled together in any desired manner. For example, theformer may be Aformedwith anoteh 37, andthe latter may fcarryaprojectionl38 riding in this l:notch to accomplish the desired result,Rotative movement ofthe sleeve 35 with respect to the otherpawl-supporting and actuating mechanism may be limited by forming thatportion of the sleeve edge which rides adjacent the key 23 rwith'anarcuate notchy 39 and extending the head 'of the key 23 to project intothis notch. y .c

Thus,fit will be understood that the central portion of thespring 34jwill bear-against the inner faceof the sleeve 35 and beconsequentlymaintained under tension. If for some rear lson it .isnot desired toutilize a spring of this character it will be obvious that a differenttype of spring may loe-employed, for example, as has been illustrated inFig. 6. Tn this view the ratchet nut .housing is vformed with an annulargroove 40, preferably having a depressed portion` 41 and beinginterrupted of n course V'by the slots 25. Disposed within this grooveisa spring 42, which has its extremities bent to extend inwardly as at 43land bear .against the paivls, and intermediate these extremities it isformed with" an inwardlystruck portion 44, which rides within thedepression 41 and thus prevents the spring from creepingycircumferentiallyl j' From the foregoing itV will be appreciated thatin operation the shifter sleeve 36 is turned to correspondingly.turn thesleeve 35 so that arcuately-extending slots 45 formerA in this sleeveandin line with the arms'29 of the pa-wl member'will moveto a positionat which these Aarms are "swung inwardly within the grooves 26. Thus,this pawl member isgrocked so that its body '27 rises up- ,wardly withinthe slot 25, and its lower edge consequently does not engage` theratchet of Athe nut. This rocking occurs' around Vthe inner edges ,ofthe grooves26 and adjacent the 1;

outer edge' of the` corresponding slot, these grooves edges thus actingas a fulcrum. Despite Vvthe fact that one ofthe pawl members is thusrendered inoperative, the `second pawl member will remain inrcontactwith the ratchetpOrtion 32.of the sleeve 30. As a consequence,vifan'operator Ygrips the handleV 10 and thesleeve 19l and moves themtowards each other,"a screw which' maybe engagedby a bit carriedvby theychuckv 18 will be driven. 'Upon the handle being permitted to move,rearwardly following the urging of the spring 15, the engagement of thescrew-head and bit 'will serve .to prevent any tendencyy of the spindle13 movifrng', due tofrictional contact of the parts. The ratchet-nutwill rotate, however, during such rearv'vardl movement, and the pawl,whichhas previously served to .rotate .the spindle, will now simplyoverride the ratchetteeth'of this nut. e

Y These 'operations vmaybe continued as long as desired, and ifsubsequently it isdesired to withdraw a screwv Lor screws this mayreadily be v accomplished vby simply rotating `the shifter sleeve 36and, consequently the sleeve 35, to a positionr at which the slots 45ias permit the arms 29 of the second pawl member `to swing outwardly, sothat thebody of the same may move downwardly Within the slot 25 and toapositionat which it will engage the ratchet of thenut. Under suchconditions it will be obvious that `upon `the handle 10 being projectedtowards the sleeve 19 thel spindlewillbe rotated as aforede-` scribed,but upon retraction of the handle the spindle will berotated inanopposite direc-` tion. Consequently, after the handle has beenprojectedso that the spindle is housed toV a maximum extent within thetube 11, and the sleeve-carrying portion of the chuck has its rearmostedge engaging the outer face of the nut 21, the handle 10 may be rotatedas in themanner of an ordinary screwdriver to elfect a retraction orwithdrawal of the screw which is engaged by the bit associated with thechuck;

Thus, a tool has been provided which may be economically constructed,particularly if the screwdriver is of that type shown inthe illustratedembodiment. Furthermore, a tool of this nature will be rugged inconstruction and its parts will operate in such a positive manner thatit may be depended upon to continue to properly function over longperiods of time and under heavy duty, without need of replacement oradjustment. In this connection, it will be appreciated that incident tothe relatively large contact area extent between the pawls and ratchetteeth of the nut, the life of these parts will be greatly increased, andfurthermore, if a single spiral is resorted to, the life of the ratchetnut will be further prolonged incident to the fact that it does nottraverse double and intersecting spirals with their consequent sharpedges.`

In addition, when it does become necessary to inspect or repair thetool, this may readily be done by simply removing the collar 24, whichpermits of the removal of the sleeves and 36. If complete disassembly isdesired, the key 23 may thereupon be removed Y and the nut 21 unscrewedso as to render all parts accessible.

Thus, among other, the objects specifically aforementioned areaccomplished, and since certain changes may be made in the aboveconstruction, and different embodiments of the invention could be made,without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description, or shown in the accompanyingdrawing, shall be interpreted as illustrated and not in a limitingsense. j

It is also to b e understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed and all statements of the scope of the invention which as amatter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described our invention, what we a `ratchet nut encircling saidspindle and formed with a projection entering said groove, a housingenclosing said nut and formed with a H-shaped slotand recesses in itsouter face extending away from the arms of saidslot, a pair of pawlshaving their bodies disposed one in line with each of said slots, armsforming a part of said pawls and arranged within said recesses, the armsof one of said pawls being longer `than the arms of the second.` of thesame, a sleeve rotatably encircling said housing and formed with slotsfor the accommodation of the longer pawl arms, and a spring bearingagainst said pawls and tending to force the same into contact with theratchet portion of said nut.

2. A ratchet tool, including, in combination, a spindle formed with asingle twist groove, a ratchet nut surrounding said spindle having aplurality of longitudinally-disposed external projections and aninternallydisposed projecting `portion engaging the groove of saidspindle, a sleeve encircling said nut and rotatable with respectthereto,` said sleeve being formed with an opening, a pawl having alongitudinally-disposed portion adapted to engage said externalprojections of said ratchet nut and having a transverselydisposed arm inline with said sleeve opening and` projecting into the same, meansproviding a fulcrum for said pawl whereby, upon said sleeve beingshifted to engage said arm, said pawl will be swung radially upon itsfulcrum and out of engagement with said internal projections of saidratchet nut, said pawl in its initial position engaging saidprojections. l,

3.A ratchet/tool, including, in combination, a spirally-grooved spindle,asleeve encircling said spindle `andtelescoped thereover, a ratchet nut`withinsaid sleeve and having a plurality of longitudinally-disposedexternal projections `and internally-disposed projection engaging thegroove of said spindle, a pawl disposedwithin said sleeve and adapted toengage one of the external projections of said ratchet nut constantly toprevent rotation thereof in one direction; a second pawl opposed to saidfirst-named pawl and having a longitudinally-disposed portion adaptedtoengage said external projections of said ratchet nut and having atransverselydisposed arm, and means providing a `fulcrum for said pawland arm, said sleeve being formed with an opening for the accommodationof said arm and-being movable to engage said arm and to swing said pawlradially on said fulcrum to move said pawl out of contact with saidexternal projections of the ratchet nut. l .t

4. A ratchet tool, including, in combination, a spindle., `a ratchetnut`associated therewith for rotating said spindle and having a "pluralityof longitudinally-disposed external projections, a pavvl mounted adja-`l`cent said nut and having ,a longitudinallydisposed portion adapted toengagefan eX'- ternal projection thereof, saidv-pavvl having atransversely-.extending arm, nieansf prov vidiing a rulcrnm ptorA saidpavvl and arm, and

' projection thereof, said-,pavvl having av trans- Laer)versely-eXtending arm, means providing a fulcrurn between said -paWl andarin whereby rhaving projections, a sleeve non-rotatably associated withsaid handle and encirclingsaid nut, said sleeve having alongitudinally-disposed opening and a.plurality of spaced transversegrooves intersecting said opening, a pavvl having a 'portion lyingWithin the longitudinally-disposed -openingfof saidV sleeve andtransversely-extending o arms g in registry with' the transverse groovesof said sleeve, said pawl *andv arm being ulcrumed upon theVjuncture;edge et lthe opening andv grooveof said sleeve andhavingitslongitudinal portion vengaging an external` proj ection of saidratchet nut; alsecond sleeve encircling said first sleeve, said second,sleeve being formed with an opening for the accommodation otsaid arm andAbeing movable Wit-h respect tosaidiirst sleeve to engage said arm andto svvingsaid pavvl outiof thepath of said external projections oftheratchet nut. Y

ln testimony natures.`

y vvhejreoiy t alliX :our sig- ADONALD B. swam. FinnairL A. aiTHEaf thepavvl may be swung radially into and out v of engagement vvith saidexternal projection of the-1 4ratchet inut, and vvmanually-operableVI'neans torengaging said arm fto move vsaid paw-lout of Contact -withprojection.v f

6. A ratchet tool, including, in combination, ahandle, a spindleextending'into said handle, a lratchet nut disposed Within' said aidexternal handleand associatedvvith said'spindleior f rotating Vthe same,said nut having a plurality y'ofV longitudinally-disposed external j fprojections, a sleeve non-rotatably 'associated with said 4handle-andencircling-said nut, Vsaid sleeve having a longitudinally-disposedopen'ii'igV and a transversely-extending eX- ternal groove intersectingsaid-opening, a

pavvfl having aportion lyingvvithin the longitudinally-'disposed openingof said sleeve v and having a transversely-extending arm in registrywith the transverse groove ot said sleeve, Isaid'pa-vvl and arm beingulcrumed upon the junctureedge of the opening and groove of said sleeveand having its longi- Y tudinal portion engaging an external proj ectionof said ratchet nut; a second sleeve encircling said irst sleeve, said.second sleeve being formed With opening for the accommodation vot saidarm and being movable with respect to said first sleeve to engage saidarm and to svving saidpavvl outl of the path of saidexternal-'projections or-the'ratchet -nut.v l f 7. A ratchet tool,including, in combination, a handle', a spindle extending intofsaidhandle, avratchet'n'ut disposed Within said handle and associated withsaid spindle forV rotating the saine, said nut having a plural-ity oflongitudinally-disposed` external leo

